Bahrain boat widows vow to fight on

The widows of two men killed when a Bahrain party boat capsized killing 58 people said their lives had been ripped apart by the tragedy, but vowed to continue to fight for justice for their husbands.

Stephen Grady, 42, and Carl Ottewell, 40, were among 15 British victims on board the wooden dhow Al Dana, which sank in calm waters on March 30 this year.

The vessel was packed with 130 people celebrating the completion of a crucial construction phase of the Bahrain World Trade Centre towers when tragedy struck.

Inherent instability, poor safety equipment and an unqualified crew all contributed to the deaths of 58 people when the boat capsized, coroner Alison Thompson ruled.

Recording a narrative verdict for the nine Britons and one German whose bodies were repatriated to the UK via Heathrow, Ms Thompson said the doors on the lower deck were locked while life buoys were fasted to the boat's railings with nylon rope. A narrative verdict is one in which a coroner records the circumstances surrounding the death.

Ms Thompson cited a report from marine safety company BMS which noted 19 deficiencies in the boat and said she would write to the Bahrain authorities raising her concerns.

Criminal proceedings are ongoing in Bahrain against the al Dana's owner Abdullah al-Kobaisi and captain Rajendrakumar Ramjibhai. Solicitor Clive Garner of law firm Irwin Mitchell, who is representing several of the bereaved families said civil claims would also be brought.

Widows Stephanie Grady and Jeanette Ottewell were both at West London Coroner's Court to hear the verdict. Mrs Ottewell, from Bolton upon Dearne, South Yorkshire - who described herself at 41 as "too young to be a widow" - added: "We owe that to our husbands."

Mrs Grady, 31, from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, was five months pregnant when her husband died and has since given birth to the couple's second child - a daughter called Stevie.

She said: "I am satisfied with today's verdict - I think the coroner has done a good job. I definitely think procedures need to be put in place to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else."